The Tubes - The Completion Backward Principle (35th anniversary)

This month marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of The Completion Backward Principle, the sixth studio album from the Tubes. This 1981 release spent twenty-seven weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 36.

For my full album review, click here.

For more from the Tubes, click here.

Aretha Franklin - Aretha

Today (October 25th) marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of Aretha, the twenty-eighth studio album from the “Queen of Soul” Aretha Franklin. This 1980 release spent thirty weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 32. It also reached number 6 on the US Billboard R&B chart and won her a Grammy award for Best Female R&B Vocal.

St. Elmo's Fire (soundtrack) (30th anniversary)

Today (July 26h) marks the thirtieth anniversary of the release of the soundtrack from St. Elmo's Fire. The album spent thirty-seven weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, hitting a peak spot of number 21.

For my complete review, click here.

Chaka Khan - I Feel For You

Earlier this week (the 1st) marked the thirtieth anniversary of I Feel For You, the fifth solo studio album from Chaka Khan. It spent forty-nine weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 14. It also charted at number 71 in Australia, number 15 in the UK, and number 4 on the US Billboard R&B chart.

Kenny Rogers - What About Me?

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of What About Me?, the fourteenth studio album from Kenny Rogers. It spent thirty-one weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 31. It also went to number 26 on the Canadian Country chart and number 9 on the US Billboard Country chart.

Michael Jackson - Off The Wall (35th anniversary)

Welcome to another edition of Seventies Sunday.

Today (August 10th) marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of Off The Wall, the smash hit album by Michael Jackson. This Grammy winning release spent a total of one hundred and seventy weeks on the US Billboard Album chart and peaked at the number 3 spot.

For my full review, please click here.

Chicago - Chicago 17 (30th anniversary)

Today (May 14th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Chicago 17, the seventeenth studio album from Chicago. It spent seventy-two weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 4.

For my full review, click here.

Two of a Kind (soundtrack)

Welcome to another edition of Matinee Monday.

Today (December 16th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of the release of Two of a Kind, the 1983 romantic comedy that re-teamed John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. The two played criminally-minded individuals (he an inventor, she a bank teller) bent on protecting the Earth from God’s destruction. Unlike the former film that starred these two (1978’s film-adaptation of the musical Grease), this one was a critical and commercial flop.

Earth, Wind & Fire - Electric Universe

This week marks the thirtieth anniversary of Electric Universe, the thirteenth studio album from Earth, Wind and Fire. It charted at number 40 on the US Billboard Album chart, number 22 in the Netherlands, and number 8 on the US Billboard R&B Album chart.

Olivia Newton-John - Totally Hot

Welcome to another edition of Seventies Sunday.

Today, in honor of its thirty-fifth anniversary this month, we are giving a listen to the 1978 release Totally Hot. This was the tenth studio album for Australian-born singer Olivia Newton-John. The Platinum selling record went to number 30 in the UK, number 18 in New Zealand, number 9 in Japan, number 7 on the US Billboard Album chart, number 5 in Canada, and number 4 in Australia on the US Billboard Country chart.

Stevie Nicks - The Wild Heart

This week (June 10th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of The Wild Heart, the second studio album from Stevie Nicks. This 1983 release went double-Platinum in the US after peaking at number 5 on the US Billboard Hot 200. It also charted at number 28 in the UK, number 19 in Sweden, number 17 in New Zealand, number 8 in Australia and number 7 in Canada.

The Tubes - Outside Inside

Just shy of two years after the release of The Completion Backward Principle (click here for that review), the Tubes released Outside Inside, their seventh studio album. It charted at number 77 in the UK and number 18 on the US Billboard Hot 200. Once again, David Foster was at the production reigns.

Today we look at this March of 1983 release to celebrate its 30th anniversary.

The Tubes - The Completion Backward Principle

Today (January 25th) marks the sixty-third birthday of Michael Cotten, synthesizer and keyboard player for the San Francisco band the Tubes.

In April of 1981, the group released The Completion Backward Principle, their sixth studio album and first on the Capital Records label. The record went to number 36 on the US Billboard Hot 200 and gave the group their first Top 40 hit single as well.

Neil Diamond - Heartlight

Today (September 17th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Heartlight, the fifteenth studio album from Neil Diamond. It was a successful follow up to his 1981 release On The Way To The Sky (click here for my review of that one) and also went Platinum in the US. It reached number 43 in the UK, number 37 in New Zealand, number 8 in Australia, and number 9 on the US Billboard Hot 200.

On most of the tracks, Diamond co-wrote them with others including Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer-Sager and David Foster.

Kenny Loggins - High Adventure

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of High Adventure, the fourth solo studio album from Kenny Loggins. The 1982 release came out three years after his previous album; despite a long time away from the charts it still managed to climb all the way to number 13 on the US Billboard Hot 200. The sales in the US earned him a Gold certification for the disk.

Earth, Wind & Fire - Raise!

Happy sixty-first birthday today (July 25th) to bass guitarist Verdine White. Along with his older brother Maurice, Verdine founded the American R&B group Earth, Wind and Fire.

On November 14, 1981, EWF released Raise!, their eleventh studio album. The Platinum selling album went to number 37 in Australia, number 25 in Canada, number 19 in New Zealand and number 14 in the UK. In the US, it peaked at number 5 on the Billboard Hot 200 and number 1 on the Billboard R&B charts.

Donna Summer - Donna Summer

Today (July 19th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of the self-titled Donna Summer. This 1982 release, produced by Quincy Jones, was the late R&B singer’s tenth studio album and contained a variety of musical styles across its nine tracks.

The record sold well and had good chart performance across the globe. It went to number 45 in Australia, number 37 Germany, number 32 in Canada, number 20 in Japan, number 13 in the UK, number 4 in New Zealand, number 3 in Norway and number 2 in Sweden. In the US, it reached number 20 on the Billboard Hot 200 and number 6 on the R&B charts.

Chicago - Chicago 16

Thirty years ago, on June 7th of 1982, the American rock band Chicago released their appropriately titled sixteenth studio album Chicago 16. Produced by David Foster and featuring guest musicians from the band Toto, it went to went to number 44 in the UK and spent thirty six weeks on the US Billboard Hot 200, peaking at the number 9 slot.

St. Elmo's Fire (soundtrack)

Friday (November 18th) was the fifty sixth birthday of singer/songwriter John Parr.

In 1985, Joel Schumacher directed a coming-of-age film about seven Georgetown University graduates adjusting to their post-college lives and the responsibilities of adulthood. The cast was made up of prominent young actors and actresses that were part of the 80’s Brat Pack genre: Emilio Estevez, Rob Lowe, Andrew McCarthy, Demi Moore, Judd Nelson, Ally Sheedy and Mare Winningham.

Chicago - Chicago 17

On May 14th of 1984, the American rock band Chicago released their seventeenth studio album aptly named Chicago 17, a follow up to their comeback album a few years earlier. Composer and keyboardist David Foster was the producer of this multi-Platinum record, which reached number 4 on the US Billboard 200 during its seventy-two weeks on the chart. In the UK, the release reached number 24. It was also the last album for the group that vocalist and bass player Peter Cetera performed on; a year later Cetera quit the group to embark on a solo career.